Seat, cushion, backrest, and the like



April 12, 1932. D. c. HUTCHCROFT 1,853,617

SEAT, CUSHION, BACKREST, AND THE LIKE Filed Dec. 8, 1930 lzllllllla- Patented Apr. 12, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT orrlcs DAVID C. HUTCHCROFT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR F ONE- EAL! 1'0 SHELDON E. HUGHES, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO SEAT, CUSHION, BAOKREST, AND THE LIKE Application filed December a, 1920'. Serial No. 500,755.

coil springs on a backing of wood or other material and cover the supporting surface with a layer of burlap or cotton upon which is secured one or more layers of padding and an loouter finish or trim of suitable material such as leather, mohair or the like. I have found that with such constructions considerable difficulty has been encountered by virtue of the springs punching through the padding and trim, thereby materially shortening the useful life of the seat. With such constructions it is diiiicult also toobtain a desirable shape for the supporting surface of the seat andto 'maintain such shape in use. Furthermore in the manufacture of such articles when coil springs are used the handling thereof pre-- sents numerous difliculties since the readily become tangled,'bent or damaged.

diflicult to store them in columns of sufiicient 1 95 height to utilize all of the available storage space.

It is therefore an object of the present in'- vention to eliminate the difiiculties heretofore encountered and to provide a seat,-cushion or back test which is $1111 1e in construction and inexpensive to manu acture and which will materially enhance the handling problem.

Another object of my invention is to eliminate the use-of metallic rings in the conitlxuction of seats, cushions, ack rests and the her for seats and the like. I

7 It is also an object of my invention to pro vide a cushiomseat, back rest or the like including a supporting member and a cushion member cooperating therewith in such man ner that when the members are assembled one upon the other they provide a plurality.

' of neumatic cushions therebetween.

other object-of my invention is to provide a reinforced non-metallic cushion memher for seats and the like as a single unit.

. 5 Other objects and advantages of my invent is also A further object of my inventionis construct a resilient non-metallic cushionmemtrated one form'of cushioning means which includes a sin 'le unit lggeferabl rubber and w "ch may tion will become more apparent as the fol.- lowing description of several embodiments progresses, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of'a, cushion member forming a part of one embodiment of my inventio Figure 2 is a section takenon' line 2-2 of. Figure 1.

Figure 3 is'a section ta en on line 3-3 of Figure 1. p 1

Figure 4 is a fragmentary section of one embodiment of my invention showing the same supported on a frame.

Figure 5 is a longitudinalsection of the 'cushion supporting member illustrated in fragmentary sectiongin Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section similar to that shown in Figure 41and illustrates 'a second embodiment ofmy invention in which the cushioning means includesa pneumatic cushion.

Figure 7 is a side elevation of an automobile seat illustrating in use the embodiment of my invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. This view is artly in section to more clearly illustrate &e construction and arrangement of'the parts.

Referring now more articularly to Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and Figure 7 which illustrate one embodiment of my invention it will be seen that I'have provided cushioning means for seats, cushions, back rests or the as like, which elim nates the use of metallic coil springs and the attendant disadvantages thereof. v

In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive 1 have illusformed of molde in various sizes and shapes as desired and according to the demands of the market; The casting includes an inclined supporting thickness 1 and O5 downwardly extendmg peripheral supporting walls 2. In order to support the thickness 1 at various points thoroughout the extent of the pad or cushion I provide a Inrality of connected webs, ribs or depen 'ng we 2 Lesser? portions 3. In Figure 1 it will be seen that the arms of these interconnected webs form intersecting continuous lateral and longitudinal bracing and supporting members, the lateral members being indicated at 3 and the longitudinal members at 4. Although I have shown the supporting and bracing members extending laterally and longitudinally of the-seat it is obvious that my invention also includes any other arrangement of interconnected supporting and reinforcing members.

In Figure 4 I have illustrated one manner of supporting a cushion formed in accordance with my invention. The support in cludes preferably a metal stamping shown in detail in Figure 5 which may be formed as a single unit and which is formed with a plurality of lateral and longitudinal flanges 5 and 6 respectively forming respective lateral and longitudinal channels or seats 7 and 8 re.- spectively for receiving and supporting the ribs or braces 3 and 4 respectively. This metallic stamping or frame 9 may be supported on a wooden or other frame 10 coextensive with the stamping and may be secured thereto in any suitable manner.-. It is sometimes desirable to employ a wooden frame such as is shown at 10 to enable a padding member 12, if used, and a finish or trim to be attached directly thereto along the side or bottom walls.

It will be noted that the resilient casting comprising the cushion is cut away around its lower peripheral wall as indicated at 11 in Figures 3 and 4. In this manner the outer peripheral walls of the combined casting and supporting frame or stamping will present a substantially flush surface and a neat finish.

If desired, the usual padding 12 may be applied to the casting when it is assembled on the supporting frame for stamping, and over this may be applied a trim of any desirable material such as is indicated at 13. The padding may be eliminated if desired and the trim applied directly over the resilient cushion. If it is desired to obtain an upholstered effect in a seat or back rest of this type this may be done in the usual manner by applynga cotton padding over the casting and securing the trim to the padding at spaced intervals to provide a tufted finish. On the other hand, if the cotton padding is eliminated the mold for casting the cushion element may be designed to give the same.

appearance to the cushion so that when the trim is applied directly to the casting the same upholstered or tufted effect will be obtained.

In Figure 6 I have illustrated a second embodiment of my invention, which in some respects is quite similar to the embodiment already described. In the second embodiment, however, I have provided a 1 silient material cushion 14 employing one or more pneumatic cushion chambers. Th cushion 14is mold.

ed preferably as a single unit and comprises integral supporting ribs or webs extending longitudinally and transversely of. the cushion as at 15 and 16 respectively. A supporting pan or base 17 is preferably formed of metal die pressed as shown to provide longitudinal and transverse seats 18 and 19 respectively for receiving and seating the supporting ribs or webs of the cushion 14. It is preferred that the ribs fit snugly in the corresponding seats of the pan in substantially air tight relation therewith. In this manner a plurality of pneumatic load supporting chambers 20 are provided which not only further strengthen the cushion as a support but materially improve the shock absorbing qualities thereof.

When a load is supported on the cushion 14 part of the downward pressure is exerted through the supporting ribs 15 and 16 to the pan 17. Such pressure on the ribs tends to compress the resilient material of the ribs especially in the vicinity of the seats 18 and 19, thereby more effectively sealing the pneu matic chambers supporting the load. This is likewise true in connection with the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive and Figure 7.

If desired one or more small openings (not shown) may be made in the pan wall forming the base of each pneumatic chamber, thereby allowing a retarded ingress or egress of the air in the chambers under load shifting or moving conditions and it is to be understood that the present invention contemplates such construction.

It will be seen therefore that by my invention, I have provided a seat, cushion, back rest or the like which is characterized by greater comfort in use, simplicity of construction and low cost of manufacture. Furthermore, the use of springs and their attendant disadvantages in handling, storage, etc., has been eliminated.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cushion or seat comprising a body of resilient material and having intersecting supporting ribs formed integrally therewith, and a supporting member for the cushion formed from a single sheet of material, said member having a plurality of rib receiving seats formed therein to receive the corresponding ribs of the resilient body, and forming with the body a plurality of pneumatic cushion chambers.

2. ,The combination with a load supporting mces for supporting the load member at spaced intervals, and forming with the load supporting member a plurality of pneumatic cushion chambers.

3. In combination, a cushion including a cushion member of resilient material, said member comprising a load supporting thickness and a plurality of supporting ribs de-.

pending therefrom, said cushion member and ribs being cast as a unitary structure, and a channelled support for said member, saidribs cooperating with the channels of said sup' ort to, form a plurality of pneumatic cushions between the member and the support.

4. A device of the class described including a cushion member of resilient material and having portions projecting therefrom for engagement with a supporting member, a supporting member having seats formed therein to receive the projecting portions of the cushion in interfitting relation to form a plurality of pneumatic cushion chambers between the members.

5. In combination, a cushion including a non-metallic cushion member formed of re silient material and a die pressed support for said member having laterally and longitudinally extending seats pressed therein, said cushion having supporting portions depending therefrom and seated in the seats of the support to form with the support a plurality of pneumatic cushion chambers.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

DAVID C. HUTCHCROFT. 

